By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 15: The Sarawak government has set a two- to three-year transition period for the mandatory provision of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at all public premises across the State, following amendments to the Sarawak Building Ordinance 1994.
In a TVS news report, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the transition period was granted to allow building management to make the necessary preparations and allocate financial resources to meet the requirement.
He said the requirement to provide emergency devices aimed to improve public preparedness in responding to cardiac arrest incidents, particularly at crowded locations such as shopping malls and government buildings.
“We are looking at a period of approximately two to three years because if it is enforced immediately this year, the parties concerned will give the excuse that they have not allocated a budget for it.
“As such, the necessary allocation can be made next year. However, if they still fail to implement this after two or three years, it clearly shows that they have no intention of doing so,” he said at the CPR & AED Charity Run programme here today.
However, Dr Sim stressed that AED machines alone would not be sufficient without trained and competent operators at every premises.
In this regard, he reminded public premises management to appoint certified personnel to operate the devices, while ensuring that the machines are regularly maintained and certifications renewed.
“The use of AEDs must be complemented by proper knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to ensure effective early intervention, thereby increasing the chances of saving a victim’s life before medical teams arrive,” he said.
He added that the ability to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use an AED within the first five minutes is crucial in increasing the survival chances of cardiac arrest victims before medical teams arrive.
Dr Sim said delays in providing immediate assistance beyond this critical period could cause the victim’s brain cells to begin suffering damage due to a lack of oxygen, increasing the risk of permanent brain damage.
He said that even if victims were successfully resuscitated after this period, delays in receiving assistance could affect their brain function and ability to lead a normal life.
Elaborating further, Dr Sim said heart disease remained one of the major health threats, and knowledge of basic life-saving techniques should not be limited to healthcare personnel alone.
Instead, he recommended extending CPR awareness and training to all segments of society, including family members and children, so they can provide immediate assistance in the event of an emergency at home or in public places. — DayakDaily
